Meet Ashe Thorne | Queer Metal Artist and Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ashe Thorne and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ashe, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
I learned to Blacksmith at CU Boulder in 2013 and immediatly fell in love with it. As I became more involved in learning the skills for this trade, I began to notice that it was an incredibly cis- gendered, caucasian, and male dominated field. I would attend the yearly Rocky Mountian Smiths conference and I was often the only female blacksmith attending. I have also worked in commercial metal/fabrication shops since 2016 and the same mono culture was and still is prevalent there as well. As a BIPOC queer person it could be alienating at the best times and abusive at the worst times.

Not only was I faced with discrimination in these professional shops, I was also faced with it while searching for housing. Many spaces in and around Denver are too small for living and artistic space, not to mention a full forge set up, and a welder. I have struggled for years to find enough space to cotinue practicing my arts; setting up in crowded garages, small sheds, or even under a car port. Hard as I might try, there aren’t any metal friendly maker spaces to be found in the Denver area, and it wasnt feasible for me to drive for an hour to get to the nearest one.

I was lucky enough to have a fantastic relationship with the Art Students League of Denver, and I began using thier garden as a works space as well as to teach Blacksmith classes. My classes were always quick to fill up, but my minimalist blacksmith set up, dictated by the amount of space I have had as well as how much I wanted to move in and out of the building everytime I needed to used it, left alot to be desired. It was during the outdoor winter classes that I had finally had enough. I decided that I wanted to create a space for under represented groups of people to feel safe and comfortable while practicing metal fabrication techniques; and if I could not find that space in Denver, then I would create it. Thus, the idea for Hardy & Fuller was conceived.

Please tell us more about your work. We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others, what you are most proud of or excited about. How did you get to where you are today professionally. Was it easy? If not, how did you overcome the challenges? What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way. What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Ashe Thorne is a BIPOC, queer artist local to Colorado. Their obsession with metal began when they were young, working on old hot rods with their grandfather and father. This interest was rekindled at the University of Colorado at Boulder, where they received their BFA and first experienced the art of blacksmith techniques. They have worked in many types of metal fabrication shops that lend to their vast knowledge of tooling and building techniques. Since then they have worked in the arts community for almost a decade, teaching youth and teens at The Art Students League of Denver, as well as traditional coal blacksmith classes hosted at The Wyman Living History Ranch and Museum, through Colorado Northwestern Community College. It was here they learned their love of teaching this art form to others, and has pursued that ever since.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Honestly, if a friend of mine was coming to visit we would go straight to the mountians….

But let’s say they don’t like the mountians, then I would definitely take them to the newly opened Town Hall Collective to have drinks and hang out. Then we would go to RiNo to hit up some cool pop up vintage sales that are alwyas happening down there. I would make them ride bikes there, along the Platte Trail. For a night out, we would go to a show at the Ogden Theatre or even to my favorite metal dive bar, Hi-Dive to see some local metal/punk bands.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would not be on this crazy adventure if I did not have the undying support of my partner. When I had the first seed of this idea in 2019 we had only been dating for a couple of months and he was fully supportive and even began looking at commercial properties with me. We made it through the pandemic and have come out the other end fully supporting each others artistic and business ventures, and to me that has been the key to our success so far.

I would also like to thank my mom for not even being suprised that I am doing this, because of course I am doing this…..duh. And my dad for teaching me to build things when I was younger, and for showing immense excitement at this venture.

I am very thankful for The Art Students League of Denver and their amazing facility that supports so many creative minds every day. I have worked with them for almost 10 years now and I beleive that the culture they foster helped me envision the path forward as a successful working artist.

Lastly, but definitely not least, I am appreciative towards my investors for believing in my business idea enough to help launch it off the ground, and for believing in my passion to make a change in the world.

Website: https://www.hardyandfuller.com/

Instagram: @hardyandfuller